Michael Stormoen
Minnesota craft distillery Little Round Still traces its origins deep into the forests of central Minnesota, for it was in those woods that David Stormoen spent many years working with white oak destined for the cooperage industry. That business brought him into contact with fellow lumber professional Steve Wilson, whose own appreciation for bourbon led naturally to discussions about barrels, maturation, and eventually the possibility of creating a distillery. Their conversations gradually evolved from theoretical "what if" questions into concrete plans, culminating in the establishment of Little Round Still in Wadena, Minnesota, in 2019. The distillery officially began producing spirits during 2020, using locally sourced ingredients, Minnesota water, and an approach to maturation that reflected the founders' unusual familiarity with the science of oak.
During those years, David’s son Michael built experience of his own within the cooperage industry. A graduate of Alexandria Technical college, Michael first worked for 15 years in IT and web development before employment at a Minnesota barrel manufacturer. There, he gained extensive knowledge of barrel construction, maturation, and the broader distilling business. His understanding extended beyond simply producing barrels; he learned how oak species, toast levels, char profiles, and aging conditions influence the finished character of whiskey. That background would later become one of the defining strengths of Little Round Still, providing practical expertise seldom possessed by new distillers entering the industry.
When the opportunity arose for the second generation to assume responsibility for the distillery, Michael and his sister Melissa chose not merely to continue the business but to reimagine it. They acquired the operation from their parents and began planning an ambitious relocation from Wadena to Alexandria, Minnesota, where both siblings had graduated from high school and continued to regard as home despite years spent elsewhere. Rather than maintaining a traditional tasting room, they envisioned creating a destination distillery that would combine handcrafted spirits with an elevated cocktail experience built entirely around products made in-house.
Even as ownership changed, the philosophy behind Little Round Still remained firmly connected to its origins. The company's own description of its history emphasizes that the story began with barrel making rather than distilling. The founders first learned to cut white oak staves, assemble whiskey barrels, and appreciate the slow, patient influence of maturation. Only afterward did they begin filling those barrels with spirits of their own. That progression—from understanding the vessel before producing its contents—distinguishes Little Round Still from many other young craft distilleries and reflects Stormoen's conviction that successful whiskey production begins with mastering the interaction between spirit and oak.
Stormoen has described the distillery's production methods in considerable detail. Little Round Still's vodkas are produced from potatoes using techniques inspired by traditional European distilling, and the rum program begins with cane sugar and molasses before branching into lightly oaked and Jamaican-style spiced variations. Their whiskey, however, represents the most technically diverse part of the operation, employing multiple mash bills, various barrel sizes, traditional pot stills, and carefully selected blending stocks to create a range of distinctive products. Among those whiskies is Gunflint Whiskey, an American blended whiskey intended to evoke the lighter style traditionally associated with Canadian whisky. Boathouse Bourbon is built upon a mash bill consisting primarily of corn with smaller proportions of wheat and malted barley before aging for four years. Another expression features an eight-year-old rye whiskey finished in Andean oak imported from South America, illustrating Stormoen's willingness to experiment with maturation while remaining grounded in traditional production methods. Throughout the portfolio, production occurs in relatively small batches designed to emphasize consistency and craftsmanship rather than volume.
The influence of barrel science extends beyond conventional aging. During the original Wadena operation, the company helped develop laser-toasted white oak inserts known as "Barrel Breakers." These carefully prepared pieces of toasted oak increase the surface area exposed to the spirit, allowing flavor extraction while using substantially less wood than a full barrel. Although traditional barrel maturation remains central to the distillery's identity, experiments such as these demonstrate the practical application of knowledge acquired through years of working with cooperage rather than simply purchasing finished barrels from outside suppliers.
Born July 6, 1973, Michael has repeatedly discussed the importance he places on family. In addition to his close working relationship with his father and sister, Michael enjoys spending time with his two children. In fact, Stormoen explained that one of the main reasons that he relocated the distillery the 50 miles up highway 29 from Wadena to Alexandria was to be closer to his two kids. Though they are now young adults, Stormoen’s fatherly instinct is as acute as ever.
Michael Stormoen entered the whiskey business by first understanding the material that gives mature whiskey much of its character: oak itself. From those beginnings in cooperage, he helped guide the transition of a family-owned Minnesota distillery from its original home in Wadena to a significantly expanded operation in Alexandria while preserving the company's commitment to handcrafted production. As Little Round Still continues to mature alongside the barrels filling its warehouses, Michael Stormoen's greatest contribution may ultimately prove to be demonstrating that an intimate knowledge of wood, patience, and craftsmanship can shape not only excellent whiskey, but the identity of an entire distillery.
Sources:
Little Round Still Distillery official website, www.littleroundstill.com
Alexandria Echo Press, “Little Round Still to Open Soon in The Rune”, Celeste Edenloff, February 19, 2026, echopress.com
Beer Dabbler, “Microdistillery Little Round Still Has Wadena in High Spirits”, Anna Nguyen, May 20, 2021, beerdabbler.com
Aitkin Independent Age,“Little Round Still Lands Locally”, Jennifer Eisenbart, March 17, 2021, messagemedia.com
Wadena Pioneer Journal, “Wood and Water Collide to Make Little Round Still Shine”, Michael Johnson, February 15, 2023, wadenapj.com
Little Round Still, LinkedIn company profile, linkedin.com/company/little-round-still
Michael Stormoen, LinkedIn profile, linkedin.com/in/michael-stormoen-1098829
Contributed by Tracy McLemore, Fairview, Tennessee
